As if the Hyundai Veloster N isn’t hot enough, Hyundai’s all set to unwrap an even hotter version of the hot hatchback at the 2019 SEMA Auto Show. This new variant is called the Veloster N Performance Concept, and it is a spicy piece created by Hyundai to give Veloster N owners a preview of how the hot hatch could be transformed if it got introduced into the aftermarket world. The Veloster N Performance Concept comes with exterior enhancements, interior upgrades, and technical improvements. In other words, it’s the full cocktail of the tuning world. Unfortunately, don’t expect the Veloster N Performance Concept to make its way to dealerships anytime soon. This concept is strictly for showcase purposes. On that end, the Veloster N Performance Concept will be in attendance at SEMA in Las Vegas, Nevada next month.

2019 Hyundai Veloster N Performance Concept

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2019 Hyundai Veloster N Performance Concept
  • Engine/Motor: inline-4
  • Horsepower: 275
  • Torque: 260
  • [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array
Pros
Cons

Exterior

- Orange trim accents throughout the body - Large rear spoiler from KWE - KWE also contributed new hood and splitters - 19-inch forged OZ Racing wheels with Pirelli P-Zero Corsa tires

The Honda Civic Type R has some competition now, or at least the promise of competition if someone who owns a Hyundai Veloster N recreates the Veloster N Performance Concept in his way. Unfortunately, that won’t be Hyundai because the concept isn’t headed to production anytime soon. What it does do is provide a template for Veloster N owners, and that’s where the Civic Type R should have something to worry about.

Aerodynamic improvements are the highlights of the exterior upgrades, none more prominent than the aggressive rear wing — bigger than the ones on the Veloster N — with large plates on opposite ends. Over in the front, the hot hatch’s hood now features a prominent bulge in the middle to accommodate a hood scoop. Now we’re talking, right? The Veloster N Performance Concept also wears more aggressive splitters, further establishing the visual enhancements while also adding more to its aerodynamic setup. All these new bits and pieces come by way of KWE.

Speaking of visual cues, Hyundai dressed the concept up in a dark grey paint finish with matching orange trim and accents spread throughout the car. I especially like the orange outline on the hood scoop, front intakes, side skirts, and the massive rear diffuser. Those add to the aggressive character of the hot hatch.

The Alcon brake calipers sitting behind the wheels are also finished in the same orange shade, establishing a visual consistency that’s hard to shake off.

That said, I still think that the Honda Civic Type R looks more demented. It’s hard to unsee the Civic Type R’s rear section, especially that spoiler seemingly extending to the sky. The huge intakes on both sides are also eye-catching bordering on obnoxious. Still, the Veloster N Performance Concept makes a good account of itself as a super aggressive iteration of the Veloster N. And the best part? It doesn’t just end with the exterior upgrades.

Interior

- Surface covered in Alcantara - Plenty of orange trim - Few carbon fiber elements - Aluminum gear shift knob - Red Start/Stop button

We only get one photo of the Veloster N Performance Concept’s interior, but it’s evident that Hyundai didn’t go half-speed in creating a visual presentation that’s worthy of the concept’s stature. Alcantara is a prominent fixture in the interior of the concept. Most of the interior surface is dressed in the good stuff. The dashboard, pillars, and the doors are all covered in Alcantara. The steering wheel is, too, and it even has an orange racing stripe in the 12 o’clock position.

From this one image, we can see the orange stitching on the steering wheel, dashboard, gear shifter, and doors. We also see orange stripes on the Sabelt racing seats. Those stripes probably extend all the way to the backrests, too. The passenger-side air-conditioning vent is wrapped in what looks to be orange chrome.

The rest of the cabin is as refined as you’d expect. The door and window controls appear to be integrated into some kind of carbon fiber panel, as is the surrounding area of the gear shifter and a small section of the dashboard between the two passenger-side A/C vents. The Veloster’s digital display unit sits comfortably atop the center stack and I imagine the rest of the cabin gets similar premium treatments.

All told, it’s an incredible picture of what you can expect from a Hyundai Veloster N when it undergoes this kind of upgrade from the aftermarket world. The fact that Hyundai was able to create such a stunning visual is proof of the tuning possibilities that are out there for its resident hot hatch. I’m digging this particular treatment, and if I had a Veloster N, I’d probably save this image, print it out, and show it to the tuners that will end up working on my hot hatch. That’s how much I like this setup.

Powertrain

- 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine - 275 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque - 0 to 60 mph in 5.5 seconds - 155 mph top speed - Alcon brakes - Capristo cat-back exhaust system - Extreme Racing coil overs - Anti-roll bars from Daewon Steel

The Hyundai Veloster N Performance Concept is powered by the same 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four that’s found under the hood of a Performance package-enhanced Veloster N. The output this setup delivers is a tidy 275 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque.

Hyundai Veloster N Performance Concept specifications

Engine

Theta 2.0L Turbo GDI 4-cylinder, DOHC Electronic Continuous Variable Valve Timing (E-CVVT)

Materials

Aluminum block and head

Bore & stroke

86.0 x 86.0

Compression ratio

9.5:1

Displacement

1998

Horsepower

275 @ 6,000 RPM

Torque (lb.-ft.)

260 @ 1,450 ~ 4,000

0 to 60 mph

5.5 seconds

Quarter mile

14.2 seconds at 100 mph

Top Speed

155 mph


Hyundai didn’t release the performance details of the Veloster N Performance Concept but since the only meaningful upgrade in this section of the hot hatch is the new Capristo cat-back exhaust system, it’s hard to imagine the Veloster N Performance Concept being a lot faster than its Veloster N counterpart. If anything, we can assume that the incremental improvements brought about by all the new aerodynamic additions could help the concept get off the line quicker, or at least tidier than the standard Veloster N. Maybe a 0-to-60 mph time of 5.4 seconds is in the cards?

It’s hard to look at the Hyundai Veloster N Performance Concept and not think about the Honda Civic Type R. We talked about the latter in the context of the Veloster N Performance Concept’s exterior upgrades, so it’s only fitting that we do the same from the perspective of the Honda’s power and performance capabilities relative to that of the Veloster N Performance Concept. The Civic Type R is powered by a similarly sized 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder. It does, however, produce more power to the tune of a little over 300 horsepower. It’s quicker than the Veloster N Performance Concept to 60 mph - 5.2 seconds - and it carries a higher top speed - 169 mph - compared to the Hyundai hot hatch’s 155-mph Vmax. So, the Civic Type R is both faster and more powerful. That’s no shame to the Hyundai Veloster N, even if it’s wearing all these aftermarket components.

These two components essentially replace the hot hatch’s factory electronically adjustable suspension system. As I mentioned earlier, the Veloster N Performance Concept also benefits from new Alcon brakes, specifically six-piston calipers and 15-inch rotors up front and four-piston calipers with 14-inch rotors at the back.

Final Thoughts

If you ever wondered what tuning possibilities are out there for the Hyundai Veloster N, Hyundai answered it for you with the Veloster N Performance Concept. This hot hatch is completely on fire! The exterior upgrades beef up what is already a sporty and aggressive looking exterior. The bulging hood and the hood scoop are awesome while that huge rear spoiler is more awesome. It’s hard not to look at the Veloster N Performance Concept and imagine all the other possible setups you can make to your Veloster. I’d be remiss if I didn’t talk about the interior, too. This section is probably my favorite of the entire Veloster N Performance Concept package. You don’t realize how much you can improve on something without actually seeing it. But once you do, it just opens up a world of exciting possibilities.

That’s my takeaway from the concept hot hatch’s interior. Then there’s the engine setup. It’s not as extensive as I thought it would be, but the improvements are no less significant, especially the addition of the Capristo exhaust system that should liven up the sound of the Veloster's turbocharged four-cylinder engine. I love the Hyundai Veloster N Performance Concept. It’s a shame that we’re not getting it in its current state, but at least we get an idea of what we can do with the Veloster N. That’s half-the-battle-won in my book.